Spring-gun



(No Model!) I J. P. WILSON.

SPRING GUN.

Patented Nov. 29,, 1887.

- Witwaowv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. FRED WILSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,104, dated November 29, 1887, Application filed March 22, 1887. Serial No. 231,979. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. FRED WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toy Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a, full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsjo make and use the same. g

My invention relates to an improvement in toy guns; and it consists in the construction and combinationof parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved toy gun. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the projectile.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in both the figures.

The gun consists of a single wire rod bent into a skeleton frame, substantially in the form represented in the drawings, and serving as the barrel, stock, and trigger.

A represents the barrel portion, which is straight and adapted to serve as a guide for the projectile, the latter being perforated to slip easily thereon.

B denotes the stock portion, shaped to present the usual and common outline of this part of a gun, and preferably receiving and holding between its upper and lower parts a strengthening-piece, B, of wood or other suitable material. Obviously the piece B is not essential and may be dispensed with, if desired. Forward of the piece B, and in'the rear of the trigger portion, it is found convenient to secure the upper and lower portions of the wire rod firmly together,as shown.

0 indicates the trigger portion of the rod or frame, having a yielding finger-loop, a, and formed on its upper side, which is in close proximityto the barrel A, with a notch or projection, c, wherewith the projectile is temporarily held preparatory to shooting. The trigger is preferably flattened at c, to allow it to spring and yield easily when pulled to liberate the projectile.

Surrounding the barrel A is a spring, D, of spirally-coiled wire, the coil extending from a point rearward of the trigger-notch, at which point it is securely fastened to the barrel to a point more or less distant from the extremity of the barrel, the latter end of the coil being free. Thus it will be seen that the spring D may be easily compressed toward the trigger, and in its resilient action will be kept from leaping off the barrel by reason of being fastened as above mentioned. The wire composing the spring may be of any suitable metal, size, strength, and degree of resiliency, and the manner of coiling the same may be varied as desired.

The projectile which is to be used with my improved toy gun may be of any desired shape and size, the only requisites of its structure being that it shall be perforatedwith a hole sufficiently large to allow said projectile to be placed on the barrel and to slide easily along the same, and shall be pro vided with a projection that, when the projectile is moved along the barrel and the spring thereby compressed, may come into locking engagement with the notch c on the trigger portion. Fig. 2 illustrates one convenient style of this projectile, as E, having a central longitudinal perforation, b, and an annular groove, 6.

The use and operation of my improved toy gun will be evident from the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of parts. To prepare the gun for shooting, the forward end of the barrel is inserted through the perforated projectile and the latter is slid back by hand, compressing the spring in its course until it reaches the trigger, laterally depresses it from thebarrel, and thus permits the projection on the trigger to interlock with the groove or projection on the projectile, which allows the latter to be retained in this position. In order now to discharge the projectile, it is only necessary to pull upon the finger-loop of the trigger, thus disengaging it from the projectile. The spring will resume its extended position, and its reaction will hurl the projectile to a distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a toy gun, the combination of the barrel consisting of a wire rod, a trigger having a of the trigger is removed, substantially as denoteh in proximity to said rod, a perforated scribed. IO projectile sliding on said rod and grooved In testimony whereof I affix my signature in to adapt it to temporarily interlock with the presence of two witnesses.

5 trigger, and a spring coiled about the barrel- J. FRED \VILSON.

rod, with one end fastened thereto and the \Vitnesses: other arranged to act directly upon the pro- BENAIAII FI'rTs, jectile and propel the same when the restraint HENRY; CARRIER. 

